The Catholic Relief Services Collection

(formerly the American Bishops' Overseas Appeal / ABOA)

"Through the eyes of faith, the starving child, the believer in jail, and the woman without clean water or health care are not issues, but

Called to Global Solidarity International Challenges for U.S. Parishes

Supports Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., the Holy Father's Relief Fund, the Bishops Migration and Refugee Services and the Department of Social Development and World Peace.

What is the Catholic Relief Services Collection?

The American Bishops’ Overseas Appeal (ABOA) has a new name—The Catholic Relief Services Collection (The CRS Collection). While the name is new, the appeal will continue to support Catholic Church organizations that carry out international solidarity and relief efforts. The collection supports five offices:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community, assists people in 94 countries on the basis of need—not race, creed, or nationality. CRS creates opportunities for Catholics in the United States to live their faith in solidarity with poor people overseas by providing financial assistance and working to remove the root causes of poverty.

The Catholic Legat Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), is a new beneficiary of the collection this year. CLINIC provides legal and non-legal support services to Catholic programs directly representing poor immigrants. CLINIC helps vulnerable immigrants who seek family reunification, citizenship, and protection from persecution and violence.

Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) resettles approximately one-quarter of all refugees admitted to the United States annually. MRS develops and promotes just public policy for newcomers and migrants and responds to their spiritual needs.

Social Development and World Peace (SDWP), a department of the USCCB, shares and applies Catholic social teaching on issues of international justice and peace. SD~CP promotes public policies that protect the poor and vulnerable and advance peace and justice throughout the world.

The Hoty Father’s Relief Fund assists victims of natural disasters and emergencies worldwide.

How does the CRS Collection put faith into action?

RELIEF AND RESETTLEMENT

The Taliban killed her brother, and her husband was targeted and disappeared. Sediqa and her seven children fled Afghanistan to Pakistan and then Russia. The children were unable to go to school. After four years, the family was admitted to the United States with little English ability and the fears that refugees bring to a strange land. The family was emotionally and financially supported by Migration and Refugee Services partner Catholic Charities, which helped them build new lives surrounded by friends.

RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT

Alexis and Alexandre were 17-month-old undernourished twins who weighed only 12-13 pounds when they made their first visit to the Center for Nutritional Recovery and Education in Toerce, Burkina Faso. Their mother received food at the center from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for one month. The health and the weight of the young boys rebounded, much to the joy of their family and the staff. Their happy mother said, “My twins recovered thanks to the rations from CRS.”

ADVOCACY

Over half of the world’s people live on less than $2.00 a day. The United States spends about one-tenth of one percent of its gross national income on foreign assistance. In solidarity with our brothers and sisters throughout the world, CRS and Social Development and World Peace (SDWP) successfully advocated for Congress to approve a development assistance initiative. The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) was funded by Congress in 2004. Its goal is to help the world’s poorest countries reduce poverty.

LEGAL HELP FOR IMMIGRANTS

James was marked for death due to long-time activism against the abusive, dictatorial rule in Liberia. He was imprisoned, tortured, and beaten. President Charles Taylor’s government forces beat and killed James’ father and pregnant wife. Helped by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLiNIC), James now lives safely in the United States. CLINIC continues efforts to help James’ two surviving children immigrate so the family can be reunited.

We appreciate your support for this important work of the church. Please visit our web site at

http://www.usccb.org/crscollection

for more information on how you can help "Jesus in Disguise"..

2004 Budgeted Distributions for the American Bishops Overseas Appeal

(former name of the crs collection)

less than two cents of every dollar is used for fund raising and administration for the collection.

Content matter adapted in part from,

http://www.catholicrelief.org

and

http://www.usccb.org/